NATO countries’ pledge to spend 5% of their economic output on defence is being hailed as former US President Donald Trump’s “biggest foreign policy success,” according to the alliance’s chief. In an interview with BBC Radio 4, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte highlighted that Trump’s push has made NATO “stronger than it ever was,” praising his approach to collective defence and his support for Ukraine amid ongoing tensions with Russia.
Trump had consistently criticised European allies for underinvesting in defence, even warning that the United States might reconsider its protection if they failed to meet spending expectations. His pressure led to the historic agreement at the June NATO summit in The Hague, where members committed to raising military expenditure to 5% of GDP by 2035 — a move aimed at countering both Russian aggression and global terrorism. Rutte emphasized that implementing these decisions is critical, warning that failure to do so could leave Europe weaker than Russia in the near future.
The backdrop to this defence push is Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, now approaching its fourth anniversary. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022 and annexed four Ukrainian regions, has dismissed warnings of further attacks on Europe as “hysteria” and “pure nonsense.” Nonetheless, NATO officials remain vigilant. Rutte called it “insane” that Putin’s pursuit of historical claims over Ukraine and former Soviet territories has led to the deaths or serious injury of over 1.1 million people.
Efforts to find a diplomatic resolution are ongoing. US envoys are reportedly negotiating a Trump-proposed peace plan with Ukraine, which includes ceding eastern territory to Russia alongside security guarantees for Kyiv to prevent future aggression. NATO’s security framework could play a role, offering guarantees modeled on Article 5 of the alliance, which obliges collective defence in case of an attack.
Meanwhile, European allies are exploring additional measures to support Ukraine, including the creation of a European-led force to help rebuild Ukrainian military capacity, secure the skies, and maintain safer seas. Putin has expressed opposition to such initiatives but maintains that Russia does not seek direct conflict with Europe — though he warns it is prepared if provoked.
The economic dimension of the war remains critical. Russia’s war-focused economy produces hundreds of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, drones, and artillery pieces monthly — a production scale that Western Europe is far from matching. Some European nations, including France and Germany, have responded by reviving voluntary military service for young adults, seeking to bolster long-term defence readiness.
As NATO strengthens its collective defence and pushes European allies to meet ambitious spending targets, the alliance aims to ensure that Russia and other potential aggressors understand the consequences of future attacks. Rutte concluded that the increased military investment driven by Trump’s policies will be a lasting legacy, providing Europe with a stronger and more resilient defence posture amid global uncertainties.